Method and apparatus for controlling steam generation



C. FOHL July 12, 1932.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING STEAM GENERATION Filed Feb. 2, 1929 IN E T R ATTOR EY Patented July 12, 1932 i '7 i i UNITED STATES PmrEbrrorrl ca; 'v

I CARL FOHL, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR TO RUTHSACCUMULATOR-AKTIEBOLAG,

' OF BERLIN, GERMANY, CORPORATION OF- SWEDEN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING STEAM GENERATION Application filed February 2, 1929, Serial No. 337,117, and in Germany February 17, 1928 The subject matter of the invention com? generation upsets the regulated 'watercircui prises a novel method and apparatus for conlation in the vessel necessary for proper trolling steam generation in steam supplyequalization-of temperature.

ing vessels. The invention is particularly The ob 'ect of the present invention is to suitable for storage vessels from which steam remove these defectsand to provide means is dischargedby relief of pressure, the manwhereby thesteam generation may be started ner of charging-the vessels with steam being and controlled in a suitable manner.- The immaterial. Such a storage vessel or accuinvention comprises the use of means similar mulator is shown and described, for examto those which heretofore have caused dis- 39 ple, in Wettstein U. S. Patent No. 1,654,955, turbances, which means may be artificially granted January 3rd, 1928. produced, or, in certain cases, the use of ex When the pressure drops in a vessel of this isting irregularly acting impulses, suitably type, because of removal of steam,;it theocontrolled, thus compelling the'watertovary retically follows that steam first forms on its aggregate state as desired, particularlyat 1b the, water surface, because a greater pressure places Where steam generation ispreferable. prevails in every deeper layer of water in ac- In one embodiment of the invention the cordance with the depth, and that the deeper V steam generating vessel is provided with layers of water increasingly P rticipate in means for forming Steam bubbles -in the"wa-- the generation of steam only during progrester content of the vessel. This may:be"acsive discharge, the entire amount of water complished in various ways, for instance, by then gradually and uniformly starting to introducing small finelyidivided gas (eg. boil. V steam) bubbles into the-watercontent,thus 7 Actual tests,however, show that steam gen-, starting" uniform steamgeneration at the eration'does not take place in this orderly point or points of introduction.-v The intro-- 25 fashion, and that steam bubbles are first duction of thesteam bubbles may be effected formed wherever a special impulse is proby any well-known device, such as nozzles, duced. Such impulses may result from small perforated tubes, or the like. If small bub-I air or steam bubbles in the liquid, dust partibles of superheated steam are usedfor inicles, or the like, and may also result from tiating steam generationin the vessel, which inserted parts, such as the charging element is quite feasible, as onlysmall amounts of 50 or the like. steam are required,condensation in the vessel It has been observedthat such special imthrough cooling because of exterior radiapulses, such as produced by air bubbles in tion losses is also counteracted. 1 o the liquid, cause immediate steam generation Steam generation in the vessel may also at a considerable depth below the water level, be controlled by special elements positioned while superposed layers of water are still at n the water space, such as sharp edged-ob rest, although these layers also consist of so Jects, similar in appearance to large steel called superheated water which is in the propbrushes or the like, on which the first steam er state for steam generation. The steam generation occurs.- A. suitable heating of bubbles thus produced rise through the quiet such elements increases the rapidity'of initial water layers to the surface, and in their turn generation. 7 r 1 r cause sudden violent steam generation in In the accompanylng drawing: v these layers, since the superheated water uti- Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a lizes the surface of the bubbles for evaporastorage vessel embodying the invention tion, which generation may be explosive in Fig. 2shows, in cross-section, another form character, and often results in forcible enof storage vessel embodying the invention;; training of water with the discharged steam, and I a f r the water thus being conveyed to steamcon- Fig. 3 shows, in detail, a part of a preferred suming apparatus or machines. formof device for causing an under-surface 5 Such non-uniform and uncontrolled steam agitation. I

Iiounding'waterjacket. meander eyli nd ria vided with longitudinal bores "6, through which the steam can pass in small. amounts into the liquid content of the storage vessel) the release of steam is thus further aided. I

'When' a is" desired to .s'iaaiuaseoasly effect .a circulation-of-water in the storage vessel,

1 the steam generationis limited to.one portion preferably beg ns, the mean rvvelght of tion or to certain portions of the-vessel contents. O ver. such places, where steam generathe Watercontent becomes considerably less due to displacement by the bubbles arid the v greater Weight of the other portions. of the 2 f wbubble a one section; of the drawing, it designating the storage water. content in which no bubbles ,or very formed produces circulation Within the vessel. V

For example, the-content of the'storage;

vessel can besubdivided by means ofa'perpendicularor an inclined partition extending from a point below the lowest water level to, a point adjacent the bottom, the means for releasing steam bubbles being provided in 7 .Such anarrangement is shown-in Figp vessel and; fthe partitioni The metal body'c for facilitatingsteam' release is v heated as an" i 1. The supply of steam: may be controlled in any 'dem eamanne as by a valve The usual charging. device" foil? v introducing;

I156 Of;'COIItI'OllQd'JGXtGIIQIY means to. provide an impulsefor the initiation of steam: generation; I

steam in'tolthe' vessel is shown: at The waf-j terfcirculation the vesseli's produced simultaneo lSly with the steam release,as indiafisdbyfth arrows;

"The s me si t1may e1 bt n by ns tingli perl fcndicular" circulation tubes (not shown) in the liquid, the formation of steam" bubbles occurring in the tub esl orjin the sur alb .con a hapede nser s i able li lz sbf -ethe ypes ay bei e i The inventiveidea is capableof many varir ations,the.e sent a1:"-fe.a; ure consisting inlthe :LcIaimr'Qq 1. Apparatus? voflthe character set. forth comprising.ashelllforholdingla bodyofywa- 1 ter,"means{for charging steaminto said shell;

means for introducing a gaseous fluid inja finely divided state into the water content of the-shell to pro-dime biiloble s' the-raises" iiiti' j ate generation of steam, and means to Withdraw steam from the shell. I

2. Apparatus of the character set forth comprising a shell for holding a body ofwater means for charging steam into said shell, means for introducing superheated steam into the water content of the shell to produce bubbles therein to initiate generation of steam, and means to withdraw steam from the shell.

3. The-method of storing and producing steam which comprises charging steam into a body of water when there is a surplus of steam to heat the body of water-and store the'st'eam, reducing the pressure above the surface of the bodyof water when there is a demand for stored steam to produce surface evaporation. and introducing a relatively small. amount ofsteam into the body of water below the surface to produce internal disturbance. 7 1. a a 4; The method ofv storing and producing steam which comprises charging steam into a body of water when there is a surplus of steam to heat the body of-water andstore the steam, v

reducing thepressure above the surface of-the body of Water when there is ademand for stored steam to produce surface evaporation and introducing a relatively small amount of steam in a plurality of upwardly directed streams into the body ofwater below the surface to produce'internal disturbance'when there is ademand for stored" steam.

5 The method of storing and producing steamwvhich comprises chargingsteam into a' body of water when there is a surplus of steam to heat'thebody of Water "and store the steam, reducingthe-pressure above the surface of thebody of Water when there isa demand for stored'steam to produce surface evaporation and producing internal disturb ance in the body ofvvater when there is a dejmand'for stored steam by contact of a localized portion of thewater with an irregular pointed surface and heating the irregular surface. 4 r i '6. The method of storing and producing steam which comprises charging steaminto a bod-yof' Water when there isa surplus of steam to supply an appreciable'amount of heatto the body of water and store thee-team, reducing the pressure above the surfaceof the body of'water when there is a demand for stored steam to produce surface evaporation and producing internal 'disturbance in the body of; water when there is a demand for",

stored steamby contact of a localizedportion of the water with anirregular pointe dsurface,

supplying a relatively small amount of-heatj I to the irregular'surfacef and controlling the amount of heat applied. to the irregular suri, face. '7. The method of storing and producing steam which comprises charging steam intoj Y a body of 'w ater' when there is a surplus of en ree t up ly "an a iab e me efil' heat to the body of Water and store the steam, reducing the pressure above the surface of the body of water when there is a demand for stored steam to produce surface evaporation and producing internal disturbance in the body of water when there is a demand for stored steam by contact of a localized portion of the water with an irregular surface having upwardly projecting points and supplying a relatively small amount of heat to the irregular surface.

8. A steam storer comprising a shell, means to charge steam into said shell constituting the principal source of heat for the storer, means to withdraw steam from said shell and a member in said shell having a plurality of pointed projections for producing localized steam generation and having a passage for steam therein.

9. A steam storer comprising a shell, means to charge steam into sa1d shell constituting the principal source of heat for the storer, means to withdraw steam from said shell and a pointed member in said shell for producing localized steam generation having an extendt ed surface and a passage for steam therethrough, means for supplying steam to said passage for heating said member, and means for controlling the supply of steam to the ointed member independently of the charg ing of steam into the shell.

10. A steam storer comprlsing a shell having an extended vertical extent, a partition in said shell dividing the same into a number of compartments in circulatory relationship with each other, means to Withdraw steam from said shell, means to charge steam into said shell and means in one of said compartments for producing localized steam generation in liquid contained in the shell.

11. A steam storer comprising a shell having an extended vertical extent, a partition in said shell dividing the same into a number of compartments in circulatory relationship with each other, means to withdraw steam from said shell, means to charge steam into said shell, a member other than the charging means in one of said compartments for producing localized steam generation having an extended surface and means to heat said member.

CARL FOHL. 

